Katie Taranto | ALXnow

House of Delegates candidates debate popular vote, ‘right-to-work’ at League of Women Voters forum

Published February 2, 2026 at 2:30PM

City Councilman R. Kirk McPike (left) and Mason Butler (right) (via Kirk McPike for Delegate/Facebook and Alexandria Republican City Committee/Facebook)

Special election candidates for the House of Delegates in the 5th District discussed their views on redistricting, the popular vote, “right-to-work” laws and more during a forum hosted by the League of Women Voters of Arlington and Alexandria City yesterday (Sunday).

Democrat R. Kirk McPike and Republican Mason Butler attended the virtual forum, which was moderated by LWV Vote 411 Director Anna Weber. Candidates were each given two minutes to respond to questions.

News

State Senate candidates debate redistricting, utility costs at virtual League of Women Voters forum

By Katie Taranto

Published February 2, 2026 at 12:50PM

Del. Elizabeth Bennett-Parker (left) and Julie Robben Lineberry (right) (images via Del. Elizabeth Bennett-Parker/Facebook and courtesy of the Arlington GOP)

Special election candidates for State Senate in the 39th District fielded questions about immigration, taxes, snow removal and more during a forum hosted by the League of Women Voters of Arlington and Alexandria City yesterday (Sunday).

Democrat Del. Elizabeth Bennett-Parker (D-5) and Republican Julie Robben Lineberry attended the virtual forum, which was moderated by LWV Vote 411 Director Anna Weber. Candidates were each given two minutes each to respond to questions.

News

ACPS will continue virtual learning Monday as crews remove ‘snowcrete’ at facilities

By Katie Taranto

Published February 1, 2026 at 5:30PM

ACPS school buses in snowy, icy conditions, Jan. 30, 2026 (via ACPS/Facebook)

Alexandria City Public Schools will continue with synchronous virtual learning tomorrow (Monday), as the school system aims to reopen for in-person learning on Tuesday.

All ACPS buildings and offices will remain closed “due to continuing frigid temperatures resulting in sidewalks not being cleared and safe for students to walk to school and wait for the bus,” Superintendent Melanie Kay-Wyatt announced this afternoon. The closure comes as crews remove what is known as “snowcrete,” or thick, compacted layers of frozen snow and ice, from ACPS facilities.

News

Measles case reported at Dulles last weekend led to potential N. Va. exposures

By Katie Taranto

Published January 31, 2026 at 2:45PM

The entrance of the Alexandria Health Department (courtesy of the Alexandria Health Department)

Health officials are advising of potential measles exposures after confirming a case that traveled through Washington Dulles International Airport last Saturday.

A person with measles traveled through the Dulles airport and took a shuttle bus to its rental car facilities on Saturday, Jan. 24. Health officials “are coordinating an effort to identify people who might have been exposed, including contacting potentially exposed passengers on specific flights,” the Virginia Department of Health said in a release today (Saturday).

News

Alexandria police identify D.C. man killed in Wednesday shooting on N. Patrick Street

By Katie Taranto

Published January 30, 2026 at 7:30PM

Alexandria Police lights (staff photo by James Cullum)

The Alexandria Police Department has identified the man fatally shot Wednesday on N. Patrick Street as 27-year-old D.C. resident Marquette Holmes.

Officers had responded to shots fired at the 900 block of N. Patrick Street around 6:36 p.m. Wednesday. At the scene, police located a man, now identified as Holmes, and a teenage male suffering from gunshot wounds, first responders said on the scanner.

News

Alexandria will begin Black History Month with annual student poster exhibition

By Katie Taranto

Published January 30, 2026 at 3:45PM

Students' posters in the 2024 Martin Luther King, Jr. Poster Exhibition (via City of Alexandria/Facebook)

Black History Month starts this Sunday, and in Alexandria, it will be celebrated with the city’s annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Poster Exhibition.

More than 130 student posters inspired by the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. will go on display at the Charles Houston Recreation Center (901 Wythe Street), starting Sunday during an awards ceremony from 1-3 p.m. The event has showcased posters by students in grades 2-5 at Alexandria City Public Schools for over 30 years.

Around Town

Adoptable Pet of the Week: Boone, a playful puppy ‘sure to bring sunshine to your life’

By Katie Taranto

Published January 30, 2026 at 8:15AM

Boone (courtesy of Animal Welfare League of Alexandria)

Meet Boone, a puppy from the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria who just experienced his first snow with his foster home as he awaits a forever family.

The 7-month-old Boone weighs about 32 pounds and still has some growing to do. He would love a buddy who can take him on walks or hikes and give him enriching activities, like food puzzles. He “is sure to bring sunshine to your life through his playful puppy energy,” wrote a volunteer at AWLA.

News

JUST IN: ACPS continues virtual learning Friday, as officials monitor weekend forecast

By Katie Taranto

Published January 29, 2026 at 4:15PM

Alexandria crews continue to work on snow and ice removal (via City of Alexandria)

Alexandria City Public Schools students will round out this snowy week with another day of synchronous virtual learning tomorrow (Friday).

ACPS facilities will continue to remain closed, Superintendent Melanie Kay-Wyatt announced this afternoon. ACPS is “monitoring the weather forecast for this weekend and will provide an update on Sunday by 6 p.m.,” Kay-Wyatt said.

News

Alexandria temporarily suspends sidewalk enforcement while ‘Snow Buddy’ requests rise

By Katie Taranto

Published January 29, 2026 at 3:45PM

Sage Goyda and son participate in the Snow Buddy Program (courtesy of Volunteer Alexandria)

Alexandria has temporarily suspended its sidewalk-clearing requirements but is encouraging residents to help clear snow across the city, as the Snow Buddy Program is experiencing an uptick in assistance requests this week.

The city typically requires residents, businesses and property owners to clear sidewalks, driveways and entrances within 24 to 72 hours after snowfall, but enforcement is on pause, according to a city announcement this afternoon (Thursday). This comes as Volunteer Alexandria’s snow removal initiative has seen at least 25 new applications for help over the past few days.

Around Town

Empty Bowls Alexandria returns next month amid increased demand for services

By Katie Taranto

Published January 29, 2026 at 1:45PM

Pottery bowls at Empty Bowls 2025 (via ALIVE!/Facebook)

The annual Empty Bowls Alexandria event is returning next month as host ALIVE! says demands for food, housing and emergency financial assistance are on the rise.

In its ninth year, the historically sold-out event brings local restaurants and artisans together to fundraise for the nonprofit’s efforts to address food and housing insecurity. The event comes as ALIVE! has weathered the region’s economic losses over the past year, with requests for support up roughly 30% since the fall, spokesperson Grace Terlinden told ALXnow.

News

New memorial on Alexandria’s waterfront will honor 67 victims of fatal midair crash

By Katie Taranto

Published January 29, 2026 at 11:10AM

On Feb. 5, 2025, locals in Alexandria gather at a vigil for the 67 victims of the Jan. 29, 2025 midair collision over the Potomac River (staff photo by Vernon Miles)

A new memorial in Alexandria will honor the lives of the 67 people killed in last year’s midair collision over the Potomac River, which happened one year ago today.

A bench, newly planted trees and plaque bearing the names of the 67 victims will be installed on the Potomac waterfront on the northeastern portion of Rivergate Park, Mayor Alyia Gaskins announced last night (Wednesday) during a ceremony in D.C. honoring the victims, their families and first responders from the tragic night.